Enter James Benwick. Sorry, Timothy. Doctor Turner the senior tries very much to be in love, and nearly succeeds in persuading himself. Yes, Sister Kenny left for America in 1940, I took some poetic licenses. The important social history here is that Sister Kenny's therapies are still in use with polio patients. Interesting, isn't it. I am just like Doctor Patrick Turner.:-) Only polio matters to him. That is of course important, but...Did everyone hear that I love Anthony Calf, who was in Pride & Prejudice 1995 and played Aubrey Tracy in Call the Midwife? This is a homage to him, too.
Thank you for reviews. Please tell me what you think, if you have time.
"Timothy! You're back! You should have sent a telegram. We weren't expecting you until December!"
The brothers Turner gave each other a friendly, manly hug. "What a surprise. Please, come in."
They entered Patrick's apartment, and Timothy put his luggage on the floor.
"Good to be here," Timothy sighed.
"Welcome to England."
"Patrick, I really would like to stay at your place."
"I am sure Jane and James would like to accommodate you. They have more room."
"Yes. I just don't like to stay so close...to The Nonnatus Clinic and the Musgrove tribe."
"Of course." There was a moment's silence. Patrick had of course missed Cynthia's funeral, but he also did not know much about the romance. He had found it odd that he had been so close to becoming a relative, although a distant one, to the Musgroves, and well, to Shelagh Mannion. Then it came to nothing. All possibilities of them being relatives seemed to be doomed.
Patrick swallowed and put his arm around Timothy's shoulders. "Let's find you a bed. I think there are a hundred unused camp beds somewhere in the store rooms of this hospital. And let's go for a beer."
"Oh, the English hospitality! Hard beds and warm beer. Thank you, brother!"
Timothy's arrival caused some ripples in the medical community of the London Lab and the Nonnatus Clinic. His irrepressible energy charmed men and women left and right. He wanted to tell all about the polio rehabilitation therapies he had studied in Australia. He had become such a good friend with Sister Kenny. And oh yes, the sunrises in Australia were magnificent.
He was a great favourite, and kept his court at the London Lab until Doctor Tracy ordered him to leave. There is such a thing as being too pleasant. After that, he visited the hospital cafe often and Patrick saw him there at ludicrously early hours chatting with other early birds. Usually Doctor Mount. Especially Doctor Mount.
At the Sunday lunches Patrick found his smoking tete-a-tetes on the balcony with the alluring Doctor Mount invaded by Timothy. Patrick was mildly annoyed. Surely Timothy could see that there was no point in endless discussions of Australian landscapes? Surely polio was more important. Well. That, and other things.
Timothy had, in his first week, visited both the families Musgroves. Trixie was in her 34th week and emotional. She was heard to say "it was a delightful visit – perfect, in being much too short."
Patrick had been amused to know that he and Doctor Mount had been connected with each other in the hospital gossip. Now, waiting for a lift, he overheard that there were new developments that interested others.
"That Doctor Mount. The younger Doctor Turner does not quite look at her with askance, does he? I sense a bitter sibling rivalry coming."
Patrick didn't mind that. He could fight and win. But the continuation of the gossip left him...shall we say...silent.
"Doctor Mount is so handsome. But I must say, even if it is not fashionable to say so, I prefer Miss Mannion to her."
"Oh so do I. So do I. But all men are wild about Patsy. Miss Mannion is too delicate for them."
"Well, I think she is not too delicate for Doctor Tracy."
"No, he does not dislike his best research assistant, does he?"
"Oh no, that is clear enough. One can guess what will happen there. They are always together. He lives in that lab, and she is nearly as bad."